wreathing

Noun

wreath (plural wreaths)

1. Something twisted, intertwined, or curled.
   • a wreath of smoke a wreath of clouds
2. An ornamental circular band made, for example, of plaited flowers and leaves, and used as decoration; a garland or chaplet, especially one given to a victor.
   • So, after a spell, he decided to make the best of it and shoved us into the front parlor. 'Twas a dismal sort of place, with hair wreaths, and wax fruit, and tin lambrekins, and land knows what all.1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter XII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC
3. A defect in glass.
4. An appendage to the shield, placed above it, and supporting the crest; an orle, a torse. It generally represents a twist of two cords of silk, one tinctured like the principal metal, the other like the principal color in the coat of arms.

   Synonyms:

   orle, torse

Verb

wreathe (third-person singular simple present wreathes, present participle wreathing, simple past and past participle wreathed)

1. (also, figuratively, transitive) To coil, curl, or twist (something); to shape (something) into circles or coils.
   • [S]he ſtarts like one that ſpies an adder, / VVreath'd vp in fatall folds iuſt in his vvay, / The feare vvhereof doth make him ſhake, & ſhudder, […]1594, [William Shakespeare], Venus and Adonis, 2nd edition, London: […] Richard Field, […], →OCLC, [verse 147], signature Fiij, recto, lines [878–880]

   Antonyms:

   uncoil, uncurl, untwist, unwreathe

2. (also, figuratively, transitive) To adorn (someone or something) with a garland or wreath.
   • [W]ith Laurels vvreath your poſts, / And ſtrovv vvith Flovv'rs the Pavement; […]1677 (first performance), John Dryden, All for Love: Or, The World Well Lost. A Tragedy, […], [London]: […] Tho[mas] Newcomb, for Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, →OCLC, Act I, page 5
3. (also, figuratively, transitive) Of flowers, leaves, etc.: to form the shape of a wreath around (something).
   • Death's Harbingers, lye latent in the Draught: / And in the Flovv'rs that vvreath the ſparkling Bovvl, / Fell Adders hiſs, and poys'nous Serpents roll.1718, Mat[thew] Prior, “Solomon on the Vanity of the World. A Poem in Three Books.”, in Poems on Several Occasions, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], and John Barber […], →OCLC, book II (Pleasure), page...

   Synonyms:

   enwreathe, inwreathe

4. (also, figuratively, transitive, chiefly passive voice) Often followed by in and the thing encircling: to coil or spiral around, or encircle, (someone or something); (by extension) to cover or envelop (someone or something).
   • wreathed in mystery

   Synonyms:

   enwreathe, inwreathe, enshroud, surround

   Antonyms:

   unwreathe

5. (also, figuratively, reflexive, transitive, chiefly passive voice) Followed by about, around, or round: to coil, twist, or wind (oneself or something) around a person or thing; (by extension) to cause (oneself or something) to cover or encircle a person or thing.
   • He had a kercher wreathed aboute his heed: […]1530 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), Iohan Palsgraue [i.e., John Palsgrave], “The Table of Verbes”, in Lesclarcissement de la langue francoyse⸝ […], [London]: […] [Richard Pynson] fynnysshed by Iohan...

   Synonyms:

   enwreathe, inwreathe

   Antonyms:

   unwreathe

6. (also, figuratively, transitive, chiefly passive voice) Often followed by together: to entwine or twist (two or more people or things) together; to intertwine, to interweave.
   • [Y]ou haue learn'd (like Sir Protheus) to vvreath your Armes like a Male-content: […]c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...

   Synonyms:

   interwreathe

See all 24 meanings of wreathe